beauty in utilitarian designs - a list by Kristine

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About this list:

By definition, utilitarian means having regard to utility or usefulness rather than beauty or ornamentation. I think this is where the future of design will change - I have seen a great amount of utilitarian designs that are beautiful, which is encouraging. Today, in order for a product to qualify as great design, it needs to have both form + function.

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Viewing 21-30 of 38 Items

ploof 2

First to recommend

Description

I'm not a Philippe Starck fanatic, but I do love this sofa he designed to be used indoor or outdoor. It's made of polyethelene, so it can be left outdoors permanently if you should wish to. Love that.

Updated Mar 17, 2007

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folding chair

First to recommend

Description

Finally! A folding chair I like! If you entertain a lot, you know how important it is to have extra folding chairs around. But they're normally so ugly. This one is gorgeous. Steel frames. Stained beech wood to look wenge. Lovely.

Updated Mar 17, 2007

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box storage

First to recommend

Description

I've been told I'm the most disorganized organized person they've ever met. I think this handy piece of furniture is what I need. Toss it in. Spinning mechanism makes it easy to find stuff easily. I'm gonna try to talk my boss into buying this for me.

Updated Mar 17, 2007

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storm flowerpot

First to recommend

Description

This Danish design flowerpot by Storm Design is very clever. They redesigned the never-challenged water catch tray into the outter wall of the pot, allowing more overflow and improved aesthetic. (Some of us need that extra help.) (Or do my trick. Add a bunch of rocks to the bottom of a cachepot, then place a cut-down plastic planter on top. Cover with moss to hide ugly plastic cotnainer.)

Or buy this great coated aluminum pot. It's lovely.

Updated Mar 18, 2007

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eva schildt umbrella stand

First to recommend

3 people recommended this item

Description

It has taken four years for this prototype to finally go into production. Thanks to Design House of Stockholm, who is producing this product for May 2007 market release. It's so elaborate in its simplicity that I find it ingenious. You immediately recognize it is an umbrella stand from its shape, and the sea sponge at the bottom to catch water is an unexpected element that translates perfectly its existence. Great product. (via wallpaper)

Updated Mar 25, 2007

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Octopus

3 people recommended this item

Description

This is the first time I've seen this product. It's cool! Highly functional. I can see using this for a ton of things, including gardening tools in the backyard, at camping to hold accessories or clothes, etc. I love, love, love well-designed utilitarian products! (via ataraxy)

Updated Mar 30, 2007

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PureModern house letters

First to recommend

Description

Gorgeous stainless steel stencil letters. I love them in lower case. I would put these inside the house, as part of a wall project. Create your own poetry, mount it on a all in poetry-like pattern. Will look great and original.

Updated Apr 11, 2007

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luminist counter (resin)

First to recommend

Description

The Luminist Counter was introduced at the The Salone Internazionale del Mobile this week by Toto of Japan. They normally manufacture bathroom fixtures, and mostly famous for their toilets. This resin counter is innovative - it is heat resistant. You get the look of frosted glass, but with a much warmer glow and feel. Durable as heck too. Not readily available right now, but I'm sure in a few years there will be immitations galore at lower prices. It's too bad I can't wait two years. (via business week)

Updated Apr 18, 2007

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insulated hot cold bag

2 people recommended this item

Description

Useful (insulated!) + attractive (silver!) + good back story (produced by a 70 year old man in the Shizuoka Prefecture for the past 40 years) = good conversation piece after you've unpacked the dessert you brought to the potluck. ($8 at Kiosk)

Updated May 14, 2007

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eye-swim by humberto jiménez

First to recommend

Description

A concept swimming product for the Nike Eye-D line inspired by the strapless goggles --- these use no straps or nose bridge. In addition, these will have Nike's Maxsight tinted lenses for improved sight under water and they're anti-fog. Great looking design.

Updated Jul 3, 2007

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Kristine

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A newbie shop keeper. (Aiyah!)

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